a protest which happened because they were about to be replaced while already working in extremely dangerous conditions with terrible compensation.

Gee. Being "replaced" in a job like that sounds like a good career move to me.

The system that prevailed up to that point didn't give them many options, of course... but neither would their response to it. Sabotage doesn't bring progress, no matter who told you that it did, or how much you want to believe it.